Automatic cut-off.



No. 684,436. 7 Patontd on. IS, I90l.

l.'F. KE'PLER. AUTBMATIQ GUT-OFF.

(Application filed 1hr. 22, 1901.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRWIN r. KEPLER, or AKRON, o111o.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,436, dated October15, 190i.

Application filed March 22, 1901. Serial No. 52,331. (No model.)

To [ZZZ whom it ma 001mm.-

Beit-known that I, IRWIN F. KEPLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Out-Offs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in that class of machineswhose object and purposeis to shut off gas in the main or service pipesupon a decrease of pressure in either, and to thus prevent the rentranceof gas into apartments through burners that may have been open at thetime of such decrease.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device ofthe class named in which spring-pressed mechanism arranged to close thevalve is held open by a pawl or equivalentmeans adapted to be releasedby an armature of an electromagnet arranged by suitable mechanism to beenergized by a decrease of the gas-pressure; a further object is torelease the pawl by an increase of the gas-pressure beyond a determinedlimit, and a final object is to break the electrical circuit when themachine has been actuated, and thereby prevent the battery from wastingor running down.

To the accomplishment of the aforesaid objects my invention consists inthe peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in theclaim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms apart of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a service or main pipeprovided with my invention and in which the spring-actuated mechanism issupported thereon in a case, (shown in section,) 1 is the inlet orservice pipe, 2 is the house-pipe, and 3 the valve, having a stem 4:,provided with a hand-wheel 5. On the stem 4 is a coiled or clock spring6, anchored on a pin 7 in the case 8. The

tendency or thrust of the spring 6 is constantly to revolve the stem toclose the valve. The stem 4 bears a large gear-wheel 9, that meshes in apinion 10 on a counter-shaft 11. On the counter-shaft 11 is aratchet-wheel 12, arranged to be engaged by a pawl 13, which is anangular rib or blade on a rocking armature ll, pivotally suspended inthe case S in front of the poles of an electromagnet 15, mounted on abracket in thecase 8. Mounted on and internally connected with the pipe1 is a pressure-gage 20, having the ordinary statf 19, hearing thepointer 25 in electrical connection through a wire 18 with one terminalof the coils of the magnet 15. On the gagedial are two contact posts orstuds 22 and 24, the first whereof is connected by a wire 21 with onepole of a batteryl? and the other by a branch wire 23 with the wire 21The other pole of the battery 17 has a wire 16, that extends above andterminates closely above a pivoted catch 26 and in close proximitythereto as to make electrical connection therewith when the catch israised. A second wire 27, connected with the opposite terminal of themagnet 15, also extends above the catch 26, so adjusted as to makeelectrical contact therewith as it is raised simuh taneously with itscontact with the wire 16.

'The catch 26 is arranged to rest on the upper end of the armature 14when the latter is rocked outward and to fall by gravitation as thearmature is drawn toward the magnet and has a notch in its under movableend to engage the armature as it rocks toward the magnet and hold itagainst return until the catch is raised by hand.

In operation, the valve being open, the parts will remain. substantiallystationary until the pressure decreases so far as to permit the pointer25 to engage the stud 22 or raise so high as to cause it to engage thestud 24. In either case the circuit will be closed through the batteryand electromagnet and draw the armature away from the wheel 12, thuspermitting the spring 6 to close the valve. In this operation the catch26 will fall as the armature rocks toward the magnet and block itsfurther return and will simultaneously open the circuit by contact withthe terminals of the wire 16 and 27, and thus prevent the battery fromwasting.

I claim as my invention In a device of the kind designated, thecombination of a fluid-supply pipe, a valve 10- cated therein providedwith a vertical stem, a spring attached to said stem whose normaltendency is to close said valve, an electromagnet provided with arocking armature, a

catch adapted to retain said armature when rocked in one direction, aseries of gears connecting said valve stem and a shaft, said shaftbearinga toothed Wheel adapted to be engaged by said rocking armature,an electric battery connected with said electromagnet, apressure-indicator adapted to close the electric current through saidelectromagnet when the pressure in said supply-pipe is at a de- IOterminate point, and an inclosing ease to re- 1 tain the mechanismhereinbefore described, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRW'IN F. KEPLER.

In presence of O. P. HUMPHREY, O. E. HUMPHREY.

